Noncitizen Youth in the Juvenile Justice System: 2018 Update

In 2014, the Annie E. Casey Foundation issued a report, Noncitizen Youth in the Juvenile Justice System, aimed at ensuring the safe and fair treatment of noncitizen youth in detention. This update picks up where the 2014 report left off. It tells how subsequent policy changes have impacted youth in the juvenile justice system and offers updated advice on working with noncitizen youth and young people with noncitizen family members. The goal? Arm jurisdictions and individual employees with the information needed to craft policies and procedures consistent with the core strategies of the Foundation’s Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative.

How changes in enforcement priorities have increased challenges for youth.

Key Takeaway

A lot has changed since 2014

In today’s climate of increased immigration enforcement, U.S. juvenile justice officials must learn how local immigration policies — or a lack thereof — can seriously and negatively impact the lives of noncitizen youth. This guide, which highlights recent policy changes affecting youth in the juvenile justice system, is a great place to start.

Findings & Stats

Tip No. 1

Juvenile justice officials should not honor any ICE detainer or hold requests for youth.

Tip No. 2

Juvenile justice officials should advocate against 287(g) agreements that allow local law enforcement officials to act as immigration officers.

Tip No. 3

Juvenile justice officials should ensure compliance with all state confidentiality laws before sharing any information with ICE or Border Patrol.

Statements & Quotations

Noncitizen youth involved in the juvenile justice system are at increased risk of arrest, detention and deportation by ICE.

An estimated 11 million people are living in the United States without documentation and more than 5 million children in the United States currently live with at least one parent living in the country without legal documents.